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SUBJECT #37

DATE: October 16th

LOG DETAILS: Chakra and cell synchronicity increasing. Measurements show that it is reaching a natural plateau soon, the amount should be quantifiable soon.

The addition of Hashirama Senju's cells alongside Tobirama Senju's has resulted in great progress towards the subject's capabilities, the increase in chakra and cell synchronicity also suggests a high physical ability.

--- implantations still show no signs of activation, I have yet to receive orders on if --- has been affected. Surgery for --- replacement pending, 37 is too valuable to lose on --- testing. The subject has been removed from the disposal log, I suggest adding him to the --- project.

Subject 37 must be studied further and transferred to --- ASAP.

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'...'

'No…'

"No fucking way…" I murmured under my breath.

"Language, Aoki." said the Hokage almost instinctively.

'We're way past fucking etiquette Hiruzen!' I wanted to shout. The only thing that stopped me from doing so was the fact that the information I had just received deserved all my attention.

Fuck, this explains so much.

My vitality, my strength, my stamina… I knew it was way too high to be normal, I fucking knew it. Orochimaru that goddamn snake, I should've known.

'Everytime I thought that I might be special somehow I shot that idea down thinking I was thinking too much of myself; that I was just setting myself up to be disappointed, but now…

I didn't know how to feel.

Inside me were the cells and DNA of legends, mythical ninjas who dominated the deadliest era of warfare. The building blocks of their strength had been jammed into me, altering my body in ways I still don't understand.

Should I be happy? Perhaps this means my potential is higher than I hoped it would be, if that is the case, it could increase my chances of survival and achieving whatever goals I have in the future.

Should I be sickened? I was a lab rat injected with the cells of long-dead men by a snake-like freak with a penchant for abducting kids, even in the show I'd be creeped out anytime his pale face appeared on screen... but to know that he permanently altered my body...

The worst thought I had was whether I should be thankful to Orochimaru for doing this, disgusted with myself I shut it down and banished it. How many children did he experiment on and throw away like trash just for one of his "Subjects" to succeed? For all the success the Log boasts about "Subject #37", how many others were ruined and "disposed" of in his relentless pursuit of his goals?

Hiruzen let me stew in my thoughts, only breaking the tension as he saw my grip on the paper tighten.

"Aoki…" he said in a gentle voice. "I know this must be troubli-"

"Is it true gramps?" I asked in a shaky voice.

I knew it was. I just needed to hear him say it.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

"Yes." the Hokage said with a blank face.

I dropped the paper, letting it glide down to the floor and looked at my hands, the hands I had grown more accustomed to than the ones I kept for 17 long years. I felt nauseous.

'Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.' my mind was a mess.

I didn't know what to think.

Hell, why was I even freaking out? I knew this, I knew everything.

I knew what kind of man Orochimaru was, I knew what kind of fucked up shit he was doing and the nature of his experiments, but my nausea wasn't just from disgust at his perversion of nature, no, it was much more personal... selfish even.

Did you see how that man was writing about me?

Subject?

Disposal?

Transfer?

Like I'm some fucking toy to be thrown around and played with at the whim of another, less than human… just a number.

37.

I felt sick.

Reading this information gave me the largest smack in the face I've felt since arriving here.

I've been wasting my time.

So many people in this village alone could sneeze in my general direction and eviscerate my whole being, Orochimaru did this to me because he wanted to… and because he could.

As I re-read the sheet over and over again, one part of me saw what was written, and as ashamed I am to admit it, was happy. The other observed that joy and felt repulsed that any part of me would ever feel that way.

I know there are many who would kill for a chance like the one I've been given, hell, if I were thrust into this world with little talent and no backing... if I was pushed into a corner with no way out I might have begged Orochimaru to improve my biology any way he could. But this was not the same.

I was abducted, I was laid bare and tested on. It was a harrowing feeling, reading about others' plans for you, no autonomy in your possession. I felt like stripped nude and paraded around.

My mind was such a mess that I didn't notice Hiruzen sit down next to me on the same couch and lay a hand on my shoulder, somehow alleviating the mental fatigue I was experiencing. I guessed that it was some type of Jutsu but was too tired to care.

"It's ok Aoki, you're safe now," Hiruzen said, still using his jutsu. It made me feel warm and secure, but I didn't like it.

"Gramps please stop that" I asked him, "I need to get through this," I said. I didn't entirely know why I felt that way, but I knew that I did. Hiruzen nodded and a small smile appeared on his face, I guessed that it may be approval but I couldn't care less right now.

The Hokage removed his hand and in an instant, the pressure, disgust and borderline fear I had felt returned. But I did not ask for help.

I felt every inch of those emotions, bathing in them, understanding them. I wanted this experience to be mine and to know it in its entirety. This is me. This is Aoki.

It took a while.

I was getting used to feeling intense emotions recently and that had proved to be a useful skill now. Ugh.

I think I need a nap.

"How are you Aoki?" he asked me patting my back gently. I had already asked him to stop helping me with the jutsu, I didn't want to seem rude so I let it happen... it didn't hurt that it also calmed me, though I didn't want to admit it.

"I... don't know," I said truthfully.

"But I'll be fine."

Gramps patted me on the shoulder and said "You are a strong one Aoki. I know this may have unearthed some uncomfortable memories, but due to your unique situation, you must know all you can as soon as possible".

I nodded, hinting at him to explain further.

"You see Aoki, the things that your body was subject to... it has augmented your physiology in ways that I can't fully understand. Even the best medical minds in the Leaf are stumped as to how this was done, much less of the effects that it may have," he explained.

I nodded again, I wasn't surprised at this revelation. In the ninja world, those at the top are far beyond the others, both in breadth of knowledge and raw strength. Orochimaru in this current era only has a handful of people who could compete with his knowledge, and it seemed none in the leaf was capable of such a feat.

I could think of one sluggish drunkard who probably could, but chances are she wasn't available.

"As much as Orochimaru is responsible for what happened, we the leaf, and I especially share that responsibility, Aoki," he said with a complex expression. He seemed to want to talk more on the subject but patted me on the shoulder and assuredly gripped it to inspire confidence.

"I have called someone who I think may be able to decode the secrets of Orochimaru's schemes, until that person arrives... if they ever do... I arranged for another to help you temporarily."

This was a bombshell I had not been expecting. A tutor? A teacher? A babysitter? Who was this person? What was it that I needed help with in the first place?

I wanted to ask him about this but Hiruzen continued on, "I know you have many questions Aoki, Tomo and Sasu are having their chat upstairs, until they come back down, ask me anything and I will do my best to give you a satisfactory answer." gramps said with a genuine smile, moving back to the chair he sat on previously.

My mind was buzzing and tired, but there was no way in hell I'd waste this chance.